Jejunum
/dʒɪˈdʒuːnəm/noun
The middle section of the small intestine, between the duodenum and the ileum.
Did you know?Jejunum comes from Latin jejunus, meaning “fasting” or “empty,” so this organ’s name was originally tied to an emptiness of the stomach, not a mystical secret anatomy.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
jejunus
“fasting; empty; barren”
Late Latin
Latin
jejunum (intestinum)
“the “empty” intestine, the upper part of the small bowel”
14th Century
English
jejunum
“the middle section of the small intestine”
Modern English
English
jejunum
“the middle section of the small intestine”